The Go Travel! PikaPackage giveaway!
Posted by Amy on Thursday August 5, 2010
For this August, I thought that it would be fitting to have a package that is dedicated to traveling. Summertime has always been about going to different places to discover something new, and this year it’s been a little quieter than usual on the internet because of it.
Once the vacation is over (or for those who are stuck at home like me,) I think it would be fantastic to be able to collect a package that can remind you about how fantastic it is to go see the world — and this is the premise of the Go Travel! PikaPackage. I hope that this would also inspire you to go out and explore – no matter the season!
For this theme we have curated a total of 14 illustrators who submitted their work in the form of prints, zines, notebooks, stickers, buttons and paper toys (more would have participated, if it weren’t for the traveling season — a catch-22 indeed!):
1. Annie Galvin of 3 Fish Studios
2. Aileen Holmes
3. Alison Tang of Little Clouds
4. Angela Keoghan
5. Chum Mcleod
6. Donna McKenzie of Corella Design
7. Émilie Boudet
8. Emma Cowley
9. Gaia Cornwall
10. Ilaria Benedetti
11. Kitty Kilian
12. Laura Tarrish
13. Rachael Smith of Penelope and Pip
14. Suzanne L. Vinson
Best of all, you can read all about our participants in this little nifty Go Travel! PikaPackage zine – there’s a short little Q+A in there with each artist and you may just find a new favorite to love!
We have TWO 8-item Go Travel! PikaPackage for grabs (valued at about $70 each!), and TWO lucky winners will get to take home a large loot of lovely items in the mail! All you have to do is just head on to any of the websites above and tell us which one is your favorite artist & why. Drop your note in the comments section by 12th August and we’ll email the winners after!
For those who want to get a Go Travel! PikaPackage of your very own, you can head over to the shop to pick up a package!
{Although participation in the PikaPackage Project is by invitation only, you can notify me of your interest and read more about the project over at our galleria page.}
UPDATE: Commenting has now closed, thanks so much for participating. The winner of this giveaway is Kasey Ann & Hollie, as generated by random.org.
Comments [72]
Review: Impressive
Posted by Amy on Saturday July 24, 2010
I remember seeing a small machine, almost antique-like that stood at the corner of a big printing house when I was checking the proofs of a magazine I was spearheading a few years ago. I asked the manager about it, and he mentioned that it was a letterpress machine – very old and broken, so it couldn’t be used anymore. It looked regal, despite its age, and very beautiful — it left me wondering about the prints that came out of the machine before it was left by the corner. Thankfully, artisans everywhere are now taking these old presses and giving them a new lease of life; and knowing that has made me feel lots better — I wouldn’t want these old presses to suffer the same fate as the one I saw.
With the resurgence of craft and the handmade movement, letterpressed stationery ranging from bold, typographic promotional items to pretty and cute wedding invitations are everywhere to be found. They’re the perfect accompaniment to the movement – they’re tactile, beautiful, and because they’re hand-pressed, each one is slightly different from one another.
So when Impressive: Printmaking, Letterpress and Graphic Design came in the mail, I was ecstatic. It’s a beautiful book – big (it measures 12 × 9.8 inches!), generous and so very inspiring.
Title: Impressive: Printmaking, Letterpress and Graphic Design
Hardcover: 256 pages
The book covers more than 100 letterpress printing studios and their work, interspersed with interviews with a few of them about their craft. The book is a great showcase of how contemporary designs fits in beautifully with this style of printing, made popular in the mid-15th century. Fun fact: Did you know that back then the impression made by a letterpress machine is not as distinct as they are now? Today, impressions are made deeper to set themselves apart from other conventional printing processes. A badge of honor, if you will!
CLICK HERE to read the full review!
Comments [5]
The Spring PikaPackage giveaway!
Posted by Amy on Thursday June 17, 2010
Ah, don’t you just love spring? The sound of birds chirping, the flowers are blooming, and also, the return of the PikaPackage Project – the Spring edition no less!
A year’s hiatus, plenty of emails and requests for the PikaPackage Project and I’m so happy to announce that we’re now on track to bring you more lovely items from our favourite illustrators and artists! For the newly initiated, the PikaPackage project is a fun marketing tool and swap meet for illustrators who are currently selling their wares online. There’s a giveaway (this post is it!), and also very limited edition packages for sale in the shop!
We have 23 participants in total, and here they are:
1. Allison Cole
2. Amy Blackwell
3. Angel D’Amico Bauer of AD Love
4. Carla Sonheim
5. Cloudery
6. Cristina Amodeo
7. Donna McKenzie of Corella Design
8. Fonfique
9. Jen Collins of Hellojenuine
10. Jordan Grace Owens
11. Jo Cheung
12. Juan Diego of Machintoy
13. Katie Green
14. Lucy Davidson of Peas & Needles
15. Lydia Nichols
16. Michelle Cavagliano of Myzoetrope
17. Nancy Mungcal of Pretty Little Thieves
18. Papirmasse
19. Roseau
20. Sam Wedelich of Dwell Deep
21. Samantha Battersby of Matou en peluche
22. Sarah Anderson of Petit Reve
23. Pamela Tobler of Zoetropa
Best of all, you can read all about our participants in this little nifty Spring PikaPackage zine – there’s a short little Q+A in there with each artist and you may just find a new favourite to love!
We have TWO 8-item Spring PikaPackage for grabs (valued at about $50 each!), and TWO lucky winners will get to take home a large loot of lovely items in the mail! All you have to do is just head on to any of the websites above and tell us which one is your favourite artist & why. Drop your note in the comments section by 23rd June and we’ll email the winners after!
For those who want to get a Spring PikaPackage of your very own, you can head over to the shop to pick up a package!
UPDATE: Commenting has closed and we’ll announce the winner on Monday!
Comments [134]
Sponsor giveaway: Microcosmos
Posted by Amy on Tuesday June 8, 2010
This week’s giveaway comes from Gemma of Microcosmos, where she provides one of a kind service of producing lovely illustrated stationery and artwork!
Gemma graduated from the University of Barcelona in Art and has been exhibited in some galleries in Spain. She works with both traditional and digital mediums, with inspiration from nature influencing her works — her latest collection is inspired by botanical life.
She’s giving away a Wine Tree Flower illustration giclee print and a pair of folded cards from her Etsy shop to ONE lucky commentor on this post! You have till the 15th to comment, and the winner will be notified by email after random.org does its magic.
UPDATE: Commenting has now closed, thanks so much for participating. The winner of this giveaway is Leonie Waldron, as generated by random.org.
Comments [37]
Lydia Nichols
Posted by Amy on Tuesday April 27, 2010
Feeling a little southern? Well then Lydia Nichol’s recent illustrations might very well be up your alley. The illustrator is based in Pennsylvania and her work is bright, happy and sunshine-y; with a dose of retro thrown in for good measure. She just returned to her Etsy shop, where you can find goodies like prints, buttons and cards – just in time for spring.
Comments [5]
We are a happy family
Posted by Amy on Friday April 23, 2010
Back in the day, my cousins and I used to play Happy Family – a card game that involves pairing up whole family members via random card pickings. I loved the retro illustrations on them, but unfortunately lost mine during my move 10 years ago.
So when I heard about the new we are a happy family cards, a project by Esti of Píntame el día that brought together 8 international artists to illustrate the families for the cards, I was thrilled! Thereza Rowe, Sarajo Frieden, Lotte Andkilde, Lady Desidia, Pintameldia, Alexandra Hedberg, Aris Moore and Kimberly Laurenti all took part in the illustrations, while the box was designed by Jorge Fernández. Proceeds will also go to Doctors without borders, so you can play knowing that you’ve helped someone out as well.
I now have a sudden urge to find some friends to sit down and play cards again. Do kids these days play cards at all, I wonder?
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It’s a rainy Friday over here (right now!), and I can’t resist the urge to cuddle up with a blanket. But before I head off for some R&R, there’s a post for a book review coming up later in the evening which I think that would make the best ending to a hectic week (did you see what the news was?).
See you all later!
Comments [4]
Kozue
Posted by Amy on Thursday April 1, 2010
Kozue is originally from Japan, and crying girls are the central theme to her work. The puffy eyes, the slouched shoulders, and hesitant demeanor of her characters are intriguing!
From Kozue:
I see beautiful thing in crying girls. “They are weak. They are strong. They are beautiful.” I like drawing, simple, yet complicated which shows your feeling, emotion, and each person’s character.
She also hand-carves stamps – I’m loving the one she made of her bulldog (whom you can see more of on her Flickr stream)
Comments [3]
Frederico Jordan
Posted by Amy on Thursday March 25, 2010
Beautiful letterpressed wedding invitations designed by Frederico Jordan , with the motif influenced by the ultra baroque style of the church location for the marriage ceremony.
{via Beast Pieces }
Comments [4]
Why Bother?
Posted by Amy on Tuesday March 23, 2010
These posters are a little NSFK (not safe for kids!)
Xin of Doinky Doodles is the maker of cheery, adorable recycled plush toys/bags/stationery (featured here and here ), but when it comes to putting down things onto paper, she certainly has a certain dark side, much to my delight!
Her zines, comics and posters are some of the things I snap up when I am in her shop. So if you’re those who are looking for a different perspective on things, hear Xin out — she just added these two new posters to her shop – one deals with growing up, and another is about being true to yourself. (Bonus tip: Read the I Heart Jacky zine and I guarantee you’ll bawl your eyes out, as I did.)
Comments [2]
Rand Renfrow
Posted by Amy on Wednesday March 3, 2010
Quirky illustrations, zines and posters from Rand Renfrow. He hit the nail on the head with It Seems Like It’s Missing Something — an illustrated book of quotes collected from people’s humorous encounters with outsiders to the design and art world; a collaboration with Shaun Fox. I bet the designer who has these sort of clients are tearing their hair out instead of laughing when told the same thing!
Comments [3]